Language Implementation Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to modify the decision-making process surrounding the budget and business cases for the Language Implementation Body, including consultation with the two agencies concerned.

Baroness Amos: There are no plans to change the decision-making process. However, the operational arrangements of the process to be followed by each of the relevant parties are reviewed on an annual basis. Consultation with the two agencies is ongoing and will be as often as is required to reach agreement on business plan and budget for each agency.

Prison Officers: Training in Control and Restraint Procedures

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How long is the training given to prison officers in respect of control and restraint procedures for use on adults and children; and how often officers are required to undertake refresher training in such techniques.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: All new prison officers recruited to work in all types of public sector prison establishments, including those accommodating juvenile offenders (who are aged from 15 to 17 years old), undertake 39 hours of basic control and restraint (C and R) training as part of the eight-week prison officer entry level training course.
	Prison establishments are required to maintain an appropriate level of officers trained at basic level in C and R. Those officers selected to fulfil that requirement normally receive eight hours of basic C and R refresher training each year.
	Prison officers who are selected to deal with incidents of concerted indiscipline attend a five-day C and R advanced course and a two-day annual C and R advanced refresher course.

Prisoners: Drug Treatment

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) what total funding allocation for prison-based drug treatment in England and Wales has been made available for each year that figures are available; and
	(b) what is the expected funding for the years 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The funding allocated to prison-based drug treatment; incorporating clinical services, counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare services (CARATs) and intensive drug rehabilitation programmes since 1999–2000 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 
			 (£ million) 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–041 2004–05 2005–06 
			 Clinical Services (detoxification and maintenance prescribing 4 3 7 7 11 11 11 
			 CARATs 6 9 12 13 16 17 20 
			 Intensive drug rehabilitation programmes 3 5 7 7 9 12 16 
			 Total 13 17 26 27 36 40 47 
		
	
	1 These figures include in their baseline the final year allocations from previous funding rounds (e.g. Comprehensive Spending Review allocations in 2001–02 became the baseline for Spending Review (SR) 2000).
	The funding shown for 2005–06 does not include any additional funding that might be awarded as part of SR 2004, about which it is premature to comment at this stage.

Prisoners: Drug Treatment

Lord Adebowale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each of the years 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 (a) how many offenders were referred to drug treatment in the community on release from prison; and (b) how many offenders received drug treatment in the community on release from prison.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Information on the number of (a) offenders referred to drug treatment in the community on release from prison and (b) receiving drug treatment in the community on release from prison is not currently available centrally. Systems for collecting these data are currently being developed as part of the criminal justice intervention programme (CJIP).

Custodial Sentences and Community Service Punishments

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the percentage increase in the number of offenders in the UK who have been given (a) custodial sentences, and (b) community service punishment in each of the last 10 years; and whether they can explain the differential rates of increase.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: England and Wales.
	The available information, from the Home Office court proceedings database, is given in the table. It shows the number of persons sentenced to a community sentence, of which: the number sentenced to a community punishment order, and the number sentenced to immediate custody for all courts in England and Wales, for each of the years 1993 to 2002. It also provides the percentage change for the numbers sentenced in each of the categories compared with the previous year, and overall.
	Statistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn of 2004.
	Northern Ireland and Scotland.
	Separate tables show similar information from the Northern Ireland Office court proceedings data sets for each of the years 1993 to 2001 (2002 information is currently not available) and for Scotland from the Scottish Executive Justice Department's court proceedings database.
	
		Number of persons sentenced to a community punishment order, community sentence or immediate custody at all courts for all offences, -- England and Wales 1993 to 2002 1
		
			  Community sentences Total community sentences 2  of which: Community punishment order 3  Immediate custody 
			 Year Total sentenced % change with previous year Total sentenced % change with previous year Total sentenced % change with previous year 
			 1993 114,806  47,961  58,738 
			 1994 128,875 12% 49,469 3% 69,588 18% 
			 1995 129,922 1% 48,337 -2% 79,538 14% 
			 1996 132,637 2% 45,895 -5% 85,249 7% 
			 1997 139,990 6% 47,123 3% 93,841 10% 
			 1998 149,388 7% 48,566 3% 100,566 7% 
			 1999 151,633 2% 49,597 2% 105,323 5% 
			 2000 155,538 3% 49,983 1% 106,187 1% 
			 2001 164,997 6% 49,764 0% 106,273 0% 
			 2002 186,520 13% 50,791 2% 111,607 5% 
			 % change 
			 1993 to 2002   
			 62%   
			 6%   
			 90% 
		
	
	1 These data are on the principal offence basis. 2 Includes figures for community punishment order. 3 New name for a community service order under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 from April 2000.
	
		Number of persons sentenced to a community service order, community sentence or immediate custody at all courts for all offences,  -- Northern Ireland 1993 to 2001 1
		
			   Community sentences Total community sentences 1  of which: Community service order  Immediate custody 
			 Year Total sentenced % change with previous year Total sentenced % change with previous year Total sentenced % change with previous year 
			 1993 1,632  584  2,414 
			 1994 1,775 9% 610 4% 2,2000 -9% 
			 1995 1,905 7% 607 <- 1% 2,313 5% 
			 1996 1,919 1% 645 6% 2,168 - 6% 
			 1997 1,866 - 3% 598 - 7% 2,157 - 1% 
			 1998 2,304 23% 655 10% 2,043 - 5% 
			 1999 2,018 - 12% 702 7% 2,008 - 2% 
			 2000 1,994 - 1% 755 8% 2,178 8% 
			 2001 1,816 - 9% 632 - 16% 1,778 - 18% 
			 2002 .. .. .. .. .. .. 
			 % change 
			 1993 to 2001   
			 11%   
			 8%   
			 - 26% 
		
	
	1 Includes figures for community service order. .. Not available.
	
		Persons with a charge proved, Scotland 1993 to 2002
		
			  Community sentencesTotal community sentences 1of which: Communitypunishment order   Immediatecustody 
			 Year Total sentenced % change with previous year Total sentenced % change with previous year Total sentenced % change with previous year 
			 1993 10,801  5,079  15,323 
			 1994 11,465 6% 5,320 5% 16,091 5% 
			 1995 11,484 0% 5,339 0% 16,255 1% 
			 1996 12,154 6% 5,711 7% 16,923 4% 
			 1997 12,599 4% 5,709 0% 16,255 - 4% 
			 1998 12,531 - 1% 5,246 - 8% 15,976 - 2% 
			 1999 12,552 0% 4,889 - 7% 16,195 1% 
			 2000 12,437 - 1% 4,690 - 4% 15,375 - 5% 
			 2001 13,584 9% 4,879 4% 16,663 8% 
			 2002 15,208 12% 5,009 3% 16,817 1% 
			 % change 
			 1993 to 2003   
			 41%   
			 - 1%   
			 10% 
		
	
	1 Excludes number of persons given probation with a condition of unpaid work.

Asylum Applicants: New EU Member States

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When and in what ways they intend to prevent hardship when asylum applicants from the 10 European Union accession states are required to leave temporary accommodation and how many children will be affected by this change.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: From 1 May 2004 asylum seekers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta, ceased to be eligible for support from the National Asylum Support Service or a local authority under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999. This is because of the effect of paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
	While these changes have been known about by people for some time, IND officials wrote to all those affected on 5–6 April to remind them of the changes and ensure that they were aware of their options after 1 May. Letters were sent to local authorities on 1 April asking that they ensure that cases whom they supported were aware of the changes. Additionally families directly supported by NASS were visited by officials during April to ensure that people understood their options. They can obtain work and register as workers under the Home Office worker registration scheme if from a country covered by the registration scheme, remain in the UK as jobseekers but become self supporting, or leave the UK.
	Once they have secured employment and registered under the scheme, asylum seekers may become eligible for family tax credit and child benefit. If they are on low incomes they can also access housing benefit and council tax benefit. Part-time workers may also be eligible for income-based jobseeker's allowance or income support, provided they meet the usual conditions for those benefits.
	If an accession state national wishes to return to his country of origin, he can seek assistance from the local authority who have a power under the Withholding and Withdrawal of Support (Travel and Assistant and Temporary Accommodation) Regulations 2002 to arrange travel. Local authorities also have the powers to provide short-term accommodation and support for families pending return. Additionally, the Immigration Nationality Directorate (IND) can make arrangements for their return.
	Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act does not prevent the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty if, and to the extent that, its exercise or performance is necessary for the purpose of avoiding a breach of a person's convention rights or a person's rights under the Community Treaties. Accession state nationals who feel that their circumstances are such that support should continue to avoid such a breach are able to make representations to NASS or the local authority that was previously supporting them. Several hundred have done so. Support, whether from NASS or local authorities, will continue while the representations are assessed. Whether and for how long support continues after the assessment will depend on the facts in each case. If support is provided it will be on a temporary basis—our overall expectation is that they can find work, return home or become self-supporting.
	Those families from the accession states who are still under consideration for the indefinite leave to remain project will continue to be supported until a decision is made.

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How long is the average delay from the initial application at local level to the issuing of a project licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and whether this delay causes unnecessary duplication of research involving animals as defined in the Act.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In the period April 2003–March 2004, 77 per cent of completed and signed project licence applications were processed within the target of 35 working days agreed with the scientific research community. Many applications were actually turned around in signficantly less time, and the average processing time for all applications was 26 working days. We expect to do even better than that once we have in place a new IT system. We have no evidence that the time taken to process project licence applications has caused any unnecessary duplication of research.
	The time taken to process such applications varies according to their nature and complexity, but the Home Office has agreed with representatives of the scientific research community that it will try to process 85 per cent of applications for project licences within 35 working days, excluding any time spent waiting while further information is obtained from the applicant. The Home Office cannot account for time taken on applications while they are being prepared and going through local ethical review processes within the establishments of origin.

Money Laundering

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many individual money laundering reports were made to the National Criminal Intelligence Service in each of the past three years.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 reports on potential money laundering, known as suspicious activity reports, are made to the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS).
	The total number of suspicious activity reports submitted to NCIS in each of the past three financial years is set out below:
	01/04/2001–31/03/2002 42,049
	01/04/2002–31/03/2003 64,277
	01/04/2003–31/03/2004 105,619

Firearms: Injuries from Non-criminal Use

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In each of the years 1998–99 to 2002–03, how many injuries were attributed to events involving handguns, rifles, shotguns, air weapons and imitation firearms where the event was not recorded as a crime or as involving a crime.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No information is collected centrally by the Home Office in relation to injuries resulting specifically from the non-criminal use of firearms.

State Visits: Policing

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many police were allocated to the state visit of the President of Poland on Wednesday 5 May, and what was the estimated number of spectators for the processions.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis informs me there were 32 inspectors, 139 sergeants and 963 constables allocated to the state visit of the President of Poland on Wednesday 5 May.
	The Metropolitan Police Service made no estimate of the number of spectators for processions.

Euro 2004

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the security vetting procedures in place for the sale of tickets for the 2004 European Championships to those resident at United Kingdom addresses by: (a) the Football Association and (b) the Union of European Football Associations over the Internet.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Football Association limits distribution of its ticket allocation to members of the FA englandfans ticketing club. Membership of the club is subject to a range of vetting and behavioural terms and conditions. UEFA has also made tickets available to the general public on the basis of four tickets per applicant. In accordance with EUFA Euro 2004 ticketing terms and conditions, applicants resident in England and Wales have been subject to police checks. Police vetting of ticket applicants is but one of an extensive range of UK and Portuguese security measures put in place to minimise the risk of significant disorder during Euro 2004.

Euro 2004

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have made to the Portuguese Government and the Union of European Football Associations about the deployment of open-air big screens in town centres during Euro 2004, both in terms of the risk of potential hooliganism and as potential targets for terrorists.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The televising of football matches on large screens in public places is a matter for the host police and civil authorities. This issue has been raised with the Portuguese authorities who are satisfied that large screens in controlled areas will provide local and visiting fans with an opportunity to participate in the festivities in a secure and safe environment. Policing and security at large screen venues is the preserve of the host authorities. However an experienced English police team will be in Portugal to provide on the spot advice on the behaviour and risk associated with England fans.

NHS Trusts: Finances

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What (a) public dividend capital, and (b) loans, have been advanced to National Health Service trusts in 2002–03 and 2003–04; and how much is estimated to be advanced to (i) National Health Service trusts, and (ii) National Health Service foundation trusts, in 2004–05.

Lord Warner: The information requested is given in the table. No loans were issued to National Health Service trusts in 2002–03 or 2003–04. Of the £2,784 million available to the NHS for public dividend capital (PDC) in 2004–05, it is currently estimated that £150 million will fund both PDC and loans to NHS foundation trusts. The estimate of loans and PDC to be issued to NHS foundation trusts will be refined during the year as better information becomes available on spending plans and in-year starts.
	
		Total PDC issued/forecast
		
			  PDC to NHS trusts PDC/loans to NHS foundation trusts Total 
			 Financial Year £million £million £million 
			 2002–03 1,434 0 1,434 
			 2003–04 1,833 0 1,833 
			 2004–05 (estimate) 2,634 150 2,784

NHS Trusts: Finances

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) what amount of dividends, and (b) how much cash they expect to receive from National Health Service foundation trusts in respect of the financial year 2004–05.

Lord Warner: The dividend payable by National Health Service foundation trusts will be calculated on the same basis as for NHS trusts. It is not possible to estimate the amount of dividends, or cash, that will be received until it is known which organisations are to be given NHS foundation trust status during 2004–05.

NHS Trusts: Finances

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they expect to receive any repayment of public dividend capital from National Health Service foundation trusts during 2004–05; and, if so, how much.

Lord Warner: We are not currently expecting to receive any repayment of public dividend capital from National Health Service foundation trusts during 2004–05.

Taxation

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What additional revenue would have been received, in respect of the latest financial year for which figures are available, from a single percentage point rise in (a) the 22 per cent rate of income tax; (b) the 40 per cent rate of income tax; (c) capital gains tax; and (d) inheritance tax, assuming in each case that all other factors remained unchanged.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested can be found on the Inland Revenue website: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats.tax–expenditures/table1-6.pdf

Taxation

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current top rate of income tax on income in each of the member states of the European Union, indicating in sterling in each case the level of taxable income at which the top rates apply.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The table below shows the current top rates of personal income tax together with the threshold levels of taxable income in each of the EU member states.
	
		
			  
			 Country Top rate of national income tax(%) Level of taxable income above which top rates apply (£) 
			
			 Austria 50 £34,270 
			 Belgium1 53.63 £20,352 
			 Cyprus 30 £22,999 
			 Czech Republic 32 £6,985 
			 Denmark2 59 £27,597 
			 Estonia 26 £0 
			 Finland3 52 £37,591 
			 France 48.09 £32,290 
			 Germany4 47.48 £35,133 
			 Greece 40 £15,764 
			 Hungary 38 £3,942 
			 Ireland 42 £18,863 
			 Italy5 45.63 £47,157 
			 Latvia 25 £0 
			 Lithuania 33 £0 
			 Luxembourg6 38.95 £23,242 
			 Malta 35 £10,399 
			 Netherlands 52 £34,123 
			 Poland 40 £10,480 
			 Portugal 40 £35,922 
			 Slovakia 19 £0 
			 Slovenia 50 £23,756 
			 Spain 45 £30,315 
			 Sweden7 57 £32,453 
			 UK 40 £31,400 
		
	
	Currency conversions are calculated to the nearest pound sterling using exchange rates as at 17 May 2004.
	1 Belgium: Top national rate (50 per cent) plus local surcharge (average 7.25 per cent). Total effective rate 53.63 per cent.
	2 Denmark: Top national rate (26.5 per cent) is augmented by flat rate local income taxes at both county and municipal levels (average aggregate rate 32.6 per cent). However, the maximum combined rate of local and national income taxes is limited to 59 per cent.
	3 Finland: Top national rate (34 per cent) plus municipal income tax (average rate 18 per cent). Total rate 52 per cent.
	4 Germany: Top national rate (45 per cent) plus solidarity surcharge (5.5 per cent). Total effective rate 47.48 per cent.
	5 Italy: Top national rate (45 per cent) plus regional surcharge (average rate 1.15 per cent), plus municipal surcharge (average rate 0.25 per cent). Total effective rate 45.63 per cent.
	6 Luxembourg: Top national rate (38 per cent) plus employment surcharge (2.5 per cent). Total effective rate 38.95 per cent.
	7 Sweden: Top national rate (25 per cent) plus flat rate local income tax (average rate 32 per cent). Total effective rate 57 per cent.
	Source:
	Inland Revenue.

Taxation

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the top rate of direct tax on personal incomes in the United Kingdom for each year from 1970–71 to 2003–04; and whether they will provide the information in the same form as that given in the Official Report on 11 March (WA 47–48).

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: An updated version of the table given in my reply to the noble Lord of 11 March 2002 (WA 47–48) is given below:
	
		
			  Single,non-aged personalallowance for aman with children Taxable incomeabove which thehighest rate ischarged Highest rate ofincome taxcharged Retailprice Index Single, non-agedpersonalallowance for aman with nochildren at2003–04 prices Taxable incomeabove which thehighest rate ischarged at2003–04 prices 
			  £ £ %  £ £ 
			 1970–71 325 20,000 91.25 18.92 3,135 192,896 
			 1971–72 325 20,000 88.75 20.67 2,869 176,565 
			 1972–73 460 20,000 93.75 22.13 3,793 164,916 
			 1973–74 595 20,000 90 24.45 4,441 149,268 
			 1974–75 625 20,000 98 28.82 3,957 126,634 
			 1975–76 675 20,000 98 35.91 3,430 101,632 
			 1976–77 735 20,000 98 41.40 3,240 88,155 
			 1977–78 945 21,000 98 47.19 3,654 81,205 
			 1978–79 965 24,000 98 51.11 3,445 85,688 
			 1979–80 1,165 25,000 75 59.19 3,592 77,074 
			 1980–81 1,375 27,750 75 68.85 3,644 73,549 
			 1981–82 1,375 27,750 75 76.77 3,268 65,961 
			 1982–83 1,565 31,500 75 82.20 3,474 69,928 
			 1983–84 1,785 36,000 75 86.03 3,786 76,360 
			 1984–85 2,005 38,100 60 90.37 4,049 76,934 
			 1985–86 2,205 40,200 60 95.71 4,204 76,645 
			 1986–87 2,335 41,200 60 98.78 4,314 76,110 
			 1987–88 2,425 41,200 60 102.72 4,308 73,191 
			 1988–89 2,605 19,300 40 108.88 4,366 32,346 
			 1989–90 2,785 20,700 40 117.38 4,330 32,180 
			 1990–91 3,005 20,700 40 128.74 4,259 29,341 
			 1991–92 3,295 23,700 40 134.85 4,459 32,071 
			 1992–93 3,445 23,700 40 139.11 4,519 31,089 
			 1993–94 3,445 23,700 40 141.48 4,443 30.568 
			 1994–95 3,445 23,700 40 145.35 4,325 29,754 
			 1995–96 3,525 24,300 40 150.08 4,286 29,546 
			 1996–97 3,765 25,500 40 153.73 4,469 30,269 
			 1997–98 4,045 26,100 40 158.81 4,648 29,990 
			 1998–99 4,195 27,100 40 163.76 4,675 30,198 
			 1999–2000 4,335 28,000 40 166.35 4,755 30.715 
			 2000–01 4,385 28,400 40 171.33 4,670 30,248 
			 2001–02 4,535 29,400 40 173.88 4,759 30,854 
			 2002–03 4,615 29,900 40 177.52 4,744 30,735 
			 2003–04 4,615 30,500 40 182.48 4,615 30,500 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. For 1970–71 to 1972–73 the highest rate shown is the standard rate of income tax plus the highest rate of surtax.
	2. For 1973–74 to 1983–84, the highest charged includes investment income surcharge at 15 per cent, but this total rate would only apply if the taxpayer's income included investment income greater than the threshold for the highest rate of surcharge, which varied between £2,000 in 1973–74 and £7,100 in 1983–84.

Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they will take to improve their standing in the summary of results published by the International Olympic Committee on 18 May, in which London ranked eighth out of nine applicant cities to host the 2012 Olympic Games in the category of "Government support, legal issues and public opinion."

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The results published by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 18 May represent the findings of their Candidature Acceptance Working Group to the IOC Executive Board. Now that the report has been published all candidate cities will develop their proposals, taking into account the findings of the report, in time for the submission of the bid folders on 15 November 2004. The Government, the Mayor and the British Olympic Assocation will work closely with London 2012 to ensure that public awareness of and enthusiasm for the bid is maximised, both in London and across the whole of the UK.

Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the relevant splits in percentage weighting to the category "Government support, legal issues and public opinion" in the International Olympic Committee analysis of 18 May are 70 per cent, 15 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The category of "Government support, legal issues and public opinion" in the IOC's 18 May evaluation report has three sub-criteria: (i) Government support and commitment, (ii) Legal aspects including compliance with the Olympic Charter, and (iii) Public opinion. The relative weighting of these sub criteria is indeed 70 per cent, 15 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.
	For each sub-criterion, the evaluation report attributed minimum and maximum scores and, for government support, an assessment of feasibility. London, Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow all scored the same for the "Government support and commitment" sub-criterion, with a minimum of 8/10 and a maximum of 9/10 for each city. The feasibility scores were 0.8 for New York, Moscow and London, and 0.9 for Paris and Madrid, and all cities were deemed by the IOC to have a "high probability" of achieving required levels of government support.

Energy Imports

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the United Kingdom's national energy requirement is supplied by imported French nuclear power; and at what cost, overall and per megawatt.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: In 2002, 0.3 per cent of the United Kingdom's national energy requirement was met by electricity imported via the French interconnector and the value of such imports, based on trade data collected by HM Customs and Excise, was £140 million (equivalent to £15 per megawatt hour). It is estimated that by 2003, this share fell to 0.2 per cent at an overall value of £90 million (£18 per megawatt hour). Figures for electricity imported from French nuclear power stations only are not available.

Fairness For All White Paper

Lord Carter: asked her Majesty's Government:
	Why the White Paper Fairness for All was not available in formats accessible for disabled people at the same time as the publication of the original documents.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government published the White Paper Fairness for All: A New Commission for Equality and Human Rights on Wednesday 12 May 2004. The White Paper sets out our proposals for a new body to meet the challenges we must overcome if we are to end discrimination and promote respect for human rights.
	The White Paper was not available in different formats for disabled people at the same time as publication of the original document due to the extra production time required to publish the document in accessible formats.
	Versions of the document in Braille, large print, other languages, for people with learning difficulties or on audio cassette are available on request.
	The Government welcome the early constructive response of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) to our proposals. We owe a debt of gratitude to the DRC and other disability organisations for their positive engagement and contributions to the process that have led to the specific provisions regarding disability in the White Paper.
	DTI officials are working closely with disability organisations to ensure that awareness and availability of the White Paper is widespread among people with disabilities.

Channel Tunnel

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 6 May (WA 136), what was the cause of the unsatisfactory functioning of electrified grids at the Channel Tunnel entrance.

Lord Whitty: The electrified grids in the Channel Tunnel entrances continually short-circuited due to the combination of dirt and high saline content of moisture within the tunnel. Frequent cleaning to attempt to stop this happening did not solve the problem.
	The options put forward by Eurotunnel to rectify the problems of electrified grids were rejected by the Channel Tunnel intergovernmental commission, on advice from the binational Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, on human health and safety grounds.

South Eastern Trains

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the cost of the new control centre and upgrade of the passenger information system at South Eastern Trains stations.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The cost of the new control centre is around £200,000. The upgrade of the passenger information system cost £9.5 million, of which £6.1 million was provided by Network Rail.

Motorcycles: Engine Noise

Earl Peel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they plan to take to tackle motorcyclists in the North Yorkshire Moors and the Yorkshire Dales National Parks who adapt their motocycles to increase their engine noise.

Lord Davies of Oldham: There are several ways in which we regulate noise from motorcycles. These include noise limits for new motorcycles, plus requirements for maintenance and for silencer markings. In response to a request from the department's Advisory Group on Motorcycling we produced some guidance to help riders to comply with the regulations and to aid the police in enforcement.
	Copies of this note Motor Cycle Noise—Statutory Controls on Noise Limits and Silencer/Exhaust Systems have been placed in the House Libraries.
	Enforcement at a local level is a matter for the police. I understand that the North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority is liaising with the police to address the problem in the area.

e-Envoy

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the recent report to the effect that the status of the e-Envoy is to be downgraded is correct.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The report is incorrect.
	At the end of last year we announced our intention to appoint a head of e-government. This is a positive evolution of the original e-Envoy role. It reflects the importance we place on ensuring that the Government capitalise on the potential of information and communication technology to transform service delivery and achieve a step change in operational efficiency across the public sector.
	The new head of e-government will operate at the highest level within government reporting to the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull and the Minister for the Cabinet Office. The full responsibilities of the post were set out in a press notice of 15 December 2003 which can be found at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/news/2003/031215 headofegovt.asp. Copies are available in the Library.
	I will also place in the Library a copy of a speech made by Andrew Pinder, e-Envoy, on Thursday 20 May to the City Informatisation for the Asia Pacific Region Forum (CIAPR) in Shanghai, which sets out some of the achievements of the Office of the e-Envoy and future challenges moving forward.